Indian F1 drivers: Indians have established themselves in Formula One, which is an exciting sport. Even though there are not many Indians in the sport, especially over the past 20 years, there have been a lot of noteworthy accomplishments by Indians despite this, especially when you consider the costs and infrastructure required to build a name for yourself.
These Indian race car drivers have demonstrated their abilities in the fast lane, raising fans’ excitement and adrenaline levels. Indian race car racers Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan have made it to the prestigious Formula One. The following is a list of all the well-known racers who are from India:
Indian F1 drivers:
1. Narain Kartikeyan:
Narain, who was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, won his first significant podium position on April 25, 2004. This occurred over the course of the second weekend of the Nissan World Series race in Zolder, Belgium. Narain gained notoriety after agreeing to a contract with Jordan Grand Prix, a Formula One constructor team.
On March 6, 2005, he made his debut at the Australian Grand Prix, coming in 15th. His greatest result came in the United States Grand Prix on June 15, 2005, when he finished in fourth place, just missing the podium.
In 2019, Narain won the Fuji Super GT x DTM Dream Race while racing for Nakajima Racing. He also recorded the quickest lap in this event. Other automobile-related competitions and events he has taken part in include the A1 GP, 24 Hours of Le Mans, NASCAR, and SuperLeague Formula, to name a few.
2. Karun Chandhok:
Karun, who was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, won seven out of the ten races in the Formula Maruti Series to claim the title. Karun won the Formula 2000 Asia Series in 2001 while racing for Team India Racing, making him the series’ youngest-ever champion. In eight of the fourteen races, he came out on top.
He won the first Formula V6 Asia by Renault Series five years later with seven victories. Throughout this series, he also earned nine pole positions. He made his Formula One debut in 2010 while racing for Hispania Racing. Along with having prior driving experience, he later went on to compete in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship and the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans. He drove for Mahindra Racing in the first Formula E Championship as well.
3. Gaurav Gill:
Gaurav, who was born in Delhi, India, won the National Rally Championship while driving for Team MRF. After that, he started competing regularly in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championships (APRC).
He won the 2013 APRC championship while racing for Team MRF Skoda, making him the first Indian to do so. He won the same championship in 2016 and 2018, giving him a hat trick of APRC victories. Also, he made history in 2019 by being the first motorsports-related Indian to win the Arjuna Award.
4. Jehan Daruvela:
Jehan Daruvala, an Indian who was born in Mumbai, made history in 2020 when he became the first racer from his home nation to win a Formula 2 (What is the difference between F1, F2, F3 and FE?) race by taking first place in the Sakhir sprint race in Bahrain. Daruvala, a Carlin competitor, outperformed Mick Schumacher, Yuki Tsunoda, and Dan Ticktum.
5. Sailesh Bolisetti:
Sailesh, an Indian who was raised in Vizag, won the 2010 MRF Racing Challenge – Touring Cars and the Volkswagen Polo Cup India.
He was the first Indian driver ever to compete in the British GT Championship two years later, in 2012. He finished on the podium in his first race at Oulton Park while driving for Lotus. A victory in the second round at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit followed this. Sailesh was the first Indian to win the British GT Championship as a result.
About Formula One:
For the unversed, Formula One is more than just a collection of races; it’s a sporting extravaganza of enormous proportions. It is a venue for showcasing cutting-edge technology and a way for a select group of individuals, locations, and machines to acquire enduring fame and greatness. Millions of people follow Formula One, which began in 1950, yet the sport is always changing and has a fascinating past.
Let us tell you, Juan Manuel Fangio (the older) won his fifth and final world championship at age 47 in 1957, making him the oldest driver to do so. Luigi Fagioli, who won the 1951 French Grand Prix for Alfa Romeo at the age of 53 years and 22 days, held the record for the oldest race winner.
On September 4, 2005, Juan Pablo Montoya clocked a top speed of 372.6 mph while operating his McLaren-Mercedes race vehicle at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza (the Monza racetrack). This record still stands for the highest top speed ever recorded in an F1 car on an F1 circuit. Naturally, Montoya won the 53-lap race from pole position, followed by Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso of Renault.
Even though Formula 1 vehicles are among the safest in the world, some accidents are unavoidable. A total of 46 people have perished in Formula 1 car accidents, according to records. Chet Miller, a 50-year-old motorist, was the oldest fatality, and 20-year-old Ricardo Rodriguez was the youngest.
A typical car can reach 6,000 RPM, however, a Formula 1 race car can reach twice as many. According to Wikipedia, the power generated by the engine makes this possible. The output of Formula 1 cars’ normally aspirated engines hasn’t altered over the years and has remained constant.
Normally, the Formula 1 engine can only finish five races. The participants allocated a considerable money just for the engine’s development. Even if they only function for a few hours, they are designed to get the most out of them. The engines are more vulnerable to wear and tear because of the high level of accuracy used in their construction.
Tyre changes typically take the F1 crew 3.0 seconds. Because constructors are evaluated at the end of the season, this is significant. It implies that the driver will concentrate more on the remaining race time.
So, this was all about the legendary Indian F1 drivers in our history. Also read, Top 5 fun & hilarious moments of cricketer Shubman Gill.
